How can Dell improve the Ubuntu Linux offering?

Offer better graphics cards as an option.

First, I'd get rid of this statement at http://www.dell.com/open:

For advanced users and tech enthusiasts, we’re happy to offer a new open-source operating system...

I have two 13-year olds that have been using Ubuntu for 1.5 years and are quite capable of maintaining their own systems. How about a less tortuous path from Dell's homepage to the Ubuntu offering? Why not a prominent link or, better yet, just include Ubuntu/FreeDOS in the customization options?

what additional software should we offer?

OpenOffice configured to save files in MS Office format by default. Firefox with plugins working and links to the Ubuntu forums, maybe linuxquestions.org, gnome-art, gnome-look, etc. already in the bookmarks. rkhunter configured to run as a cron job. CUPS, Xchat, Pidgin, Flightgear, Lincity-ng, Freeciv, GnuCash, mpd/gmpc, and Dia.

what other systems should we offer Ubuntu on?

Why not all of them? Definitely the 690 workstation. It makes no sense to put Windows on a machine that is being used to get real work done anyway.

what additional peripheral support would you like to see?

I guess some people still use modems. Printer support (a la CUPS).

Any special OS configurations we should make?

Is Ubuntu a multilib distro or is Dell using the 32-bit build? It should be if it's not. Offer a multilib OS, you're using x86_64 processors and that is a multilib architecture.

I agree with adding more machines to the line.

I agree with adding more video card choices.

the first options you should offer in addition is which filesystem to use. several of your windows machines offer NTFS/FAT32 options, you should do the same for EXT2, EXT3, EXT4 when it's not beta, XFS, ReiserFS (4), JFS, etc...

you should give a few partitioning options, like a split with a fat32 partition for media direct, and a separate home partition, or both.

Ubuntu and FreeDos _MUST_ ultimately be options presented right next to windows on (at least most) machines, once you have a better understanding of which systems are Linux friendly.
an option for No Operating System should be added, but It's my understanding that contracts with microsoft prevent that from being an option.
freedos is adequate, as it's not pre-installed. Furthermore, these options should say "subtract 59" or "subtract 100" versus the basic versions of windows operating systems, however much the most basic windows OS costs at the time.

Drivers Drivers Drivers. make them available as source downloads, as well as binary packages in repositories which you maintain for any distros you officially support (currently ubuntu)

Documentation. -- I understand this is a slow process, but when you DO expand your linux offerings, you should include a manual which explains the basics of "getting help", and the most common configuration choices, like nvidia closed source drivers, wine and cedega, and other things that are often used.

you should maintain at least ONE official repository for ubuntu, and it should be public, and all dell machines with ubuntu should be configured to try the dell ubuntu repository first.

X86_64. make it an option on any machine that supports it.

Include media direct, or at least make it an option.
add ext3 support to mediadirect. the filesystem is simple to read, and well documented, there's no excuse not to add it in your next version now that you support Linux.

Quick restore partition (F11 on windows machines)

Make both the Quick Restore and Media Direct partitions options in the grub menu. maybe password protect the quick restore, but make sure the password is well documented, so that we can use it if we need or want to, but so we don't accidentally hit down-down-down-enter when our wifes call our names and wipe our drives :P

x86_64. -- make it an option on any machine that supports it.

you should offer a dual boot configuration with the windows of your choice and ubuntu. this configuration should come default with a 25/25/50 split, with the 50 being dedicated to a FAT32 partition which can be used with media direct, and which can be used to share files between windows and Linux.

include codecs. if you need to, make them an option to purchase licenses for the codecs. if this has to be an option to select, make sure you include a piece of paper with our order that says we are entitled to have the codec DLLs installed, etc...

Atheros. Make it an option, their cards work excellently on Linux, despite a few binary blobs.

x86_64. I can't stress it enough, not making it an option is like selling a pair of shoes one at a time.

Printers. in your printer section, you should at least label some printers as Linux friendly if they are, and make them that way if at all possible.

allow us the choice of ubuntu, xubuntu, and kubuntu, as well as edubuntu.

Message Edited by aarcane on 06-27-2007 11:26 AM

Message Edited by aarcane on 06-27-2007 11:29 AM

First I want to say I'm excited about Dell's Ubuntu Linux offering. I'm not in the first wave of buyers, but I'll be looking to roll these boxes in as my (and my family's) older systems get retired.

Also, I happen to be a longtime Fedora user, but Ubuntu isn't a sale stopper for me at all.

* what other systems should we offer Ubuntu on?
My non-geek end-users really like the compact units like the C521. They want small and *quiet*, and they don't need to cram more drives or cards inside.

I'd like to see some AMD desktops, if they give more bang-for-buck.

I'd like to see RAM options that match the FSB (e.g. RAM is at 667MHz vs. 800MHz FSB on the E4300/Inspiron 530N).

I'd like to see high-efficiency PSUs. The ordering system doesn't say what the efficiency is. I'd pay $20 more for an 80-PLUS compliant PSU on a value box.


* what additional peripheral support would you like to see?
I have a couple of users who *must* have a fax-modem. It would need to work out-of-the-box with Ubuntu.

Other comments -- I buy two kinds of boxes:
A) The "girlfriend-and-grandmas" box, which must be a good value. You've got that covered, except for the compact units and the fax/modem.
B) The value-performer. Less well-covered by the current offering, for the reasons above (RAM options and AMD CPUs), but also missing detailed specifications. I need to know the chipset on the motherboard to know if it is a good value-performer. I can't easily find this for Dell systems from the purchasing system. What *is* the difference between the 520N and the equivalent XPS offering? I can't tell.

Thanks for listening and keep up the good work! :)

i am happy with the offerings. be nice if there was some way to get all the media files and players functional within 1 click though...

You should have a better video card than the 7300, which uses some system memory and is not fully populated with video memory. You should have a sound card. How about RAID 0 and one disk systems? Systems76 has most of this stuff. I can only spend about $1200 on a Dell Desktop Ubuntu system, and I want a better system than that. Thank you for asking. Sincerely, Ivan Frohne

What additional software should we offer?

Cedega by TransGaming and Crossover. As these are not free (as in beer) programs they could provide an additional "Add-on" revenue stream for Dell. Had these been available from Dell I would have bought one or maybe both with my E1505n. A VMware product would also be a good offering.

What other systems should we offer Ubuntu on?

As many as possible.

What additional peripheral support would you like to see?

Printer, printers, printers.

Any special OS configurations we should make?

I believe that Kubuntu would be a better default offering for those taking this opportunity to try Linux for the first time as the K Desktop Environment is less different from Windows than Gnome is.

Do it all, everything that is available, put a little penguin symbol or something next to the ads to let the people know they can get the exact same system with Ubuntu: or if they prefer, install it themselves, you could have free Ubuntu iso downloads or order a dvd from Dell with the Ubuntu installers etc. for a particular system. You can still run the Microsoft products promotions, just give us a little sign and we will do the rest, we will make sure potential customers know what to look for in the ads and promotions. Of course if you want to really get into it, make little penguin rings and you can have secret penguin hand shakes to let people know they are compatible without taking away any attention from Microsoft promotions, you could quietly promote penguin ring knockers, or perhaps better described as flipper knockers, a not so secret part of the Dell community? Every one can talk in a low whisper as not to upset the giant.

I would concur with some of the other suggestions people have already made:
- If the machine is 64 bit, then offer a 64 bit install option. I've been running 64 bit Kubuntu and haven't had any serious issues. I just run the 32 bit versions of a couple programs (skype, gizmo, firefox). You can run 32 bit apps in a 64 bit environment.
- Offering Kubuntu would be great. I'm an experienced Linux user and just prefer the KDE desktop.

Additionally:
- The OS installed should just be a choice on all product lines offered
- If you purchase a machine with Linux installed the additional peripherals offered should work under Linux. Nothing ruins a first time experience than having hardware that doesn't work out of the box.
- How about offering some commercial software as an option (Crossover Office, Vmware, Fluendo codecs, Moneydance)?
- Offer Ubuntu internationally. The demand outside of the U.S. may be even greater.

I'd like to commend Dell for making this a reality. Finally a big vendor has stepped up to the plate.

Hi,

The there are 2 things that I seen that would be helpful.

First is to expand the line. I'm currently runnning Kubuntu on a D820 and almost everything works. It would help to have more higher powered machines available especially in a corporate environment.

Second, fix the little things. For example, work out the external monitor settings for projectors with Nvidia. It's not as easy as it should be to change external monitors/projectors around and not spend 30 minutes trying to make everything work. Make sure that all of the keyboard hot keys work. Mostly, they do, but full support would help a lot.

Thanks for asking, BTW.

Energy efficiency, low carbon footprint: 80 plus power supply; AMD Processors - lower idle draw, particularly the option of choosing the new 45 watt TDP AMD BE series processors; option for the 64 bit version of Ubuntu; better integrated graphics chips (NVIDIA 6150 is getting "long in the tooth" is Dell looking at the 7050PV/Nforce 630a combination?)

Software: I don't think it's important. People who want other distros or Ubuntu AMD64 are capable of installing those by those themselves. I guess you could pre-install more packages or simply copy entire repositories to hdd - you're not limited to 700MB and some people are on dial-up.

Other systems: I'd _really_ like to see those other two new inspirons (1520 and 1720). 14.1'' screen just doesn't cut it.

Peripherals: start by being more verbose in currently offered hardware. I'd really like to know what integrated audio is in those systems. If it's not of a decent quality, please give an option to select something better. Other than that, a coffee maker would be nice ;)

I'm working on a Linux-powered coffee-maker attatchment for any Linux PC right now. dell, if you'd like to collaborate on this, let me know :)